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Twitter & the gluten-free community has been buzzing the past day or so about the news that Starbucks is discontinuing the Valencia Orange Cake, the only gluten-free food offering on their menu. They are replacing it with Kind Bars (a fruit & nut bar), which are rumored to be less expensive for the consumer. This message from a Starbucks employee came across the Celiac Listserv this afternoon:

This website is a forum where you can share your ideas, tell us what you think of other people’s ideas and join the discussion that will help shape Starbucks future. Many of the ideas shared have already been turned into action. If there are any questions or concerns that I have not been able to

address, please don’t hesitate to call us at 800 23-LATTE (235-2883), we are here Monday through Friday from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM (PST).

Thank you again,

Shawn H.

Customer Relations

Starbucks Coffee Company

I have also read that they were discontinuing the cake because it seemed like more of a “treat” as opposed to a healthy snack/breakfast. I kind of thought that was the point, but I could be wrong. I carry Kind Bars in my purse almost all the time for emergency purposes, I don’t need to go to Starbucks to buy one.

I am going to make sure to voice my opinion to Starbucks. Lots of voices make changes. If you are unhappy about this, make sure to let Starbucks know.

Update: Sign this petition to help bring back the Valencia Orange Cake!

I really am annoyed by Starbuck’s freakish assumption that Celiacs don’t eat “treats”-did a vocal bunch of celiacs with eating disorders complain? I’m celiac and I eat “treats”-do they now think we’re a bunch of health nuts who don’t eat sugar or fat? The only thing I don’t eat is gluten (well, and mangos, but I’m allergic to them). I like treats as much as any non celiac person, and I do NOT want to be forced to eat somebody else’s “healthy” just because I’m gluten free. I do not want to be shuffled off to the “health food” gulag!
Kind Bars are fine if you like that sort of thing, but they are NOT CAKE. And I want cake…cookies, cheesecake…